Child&#39;s furniture components



May 2, 1961 l. GLADSTEIN CHILD'S FURNITURE COMPONENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1958 MM/ AT' RNEY .m .m R

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1 y 2, 1961 GLADSTEIN 2,982,562

CHILD'S FURNITURE COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 49 FIG. 3 42 48 49 INVENTOR Irving G|ads1ein -LW ATTORNEY May 2, 1961 GLADSTEIN CHILDS FURNITURE COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR I rving Gladsfein BY I M.

ATTORNEY May 2, 1961 l. GLADSTEIN CHILDS FURNITURE COMPONENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 3, 1958 INVENTOR G13 BY Irving Gladsrein of v ATTORNEY y 2, 1961 GLADSTEIN 2,982,562

CHILD'S FURNITURE COMPONENTS Filed Dec. 5, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR TORNEY latented May 2,1961

United States Patent, Ofifice This invention relates to childrens or infants furniture and, more particularly, to a novel combination of inter changeable components designedfor cooperative interengagement to form a plurality of furniture items normally furnished as separate self-contained units.

A fairly complete line of infants furniture generally includes such items as a stroller, summer carriage, high chair, car seat, car bed, walker, and the like. When purchased as individual items, these units not only involve a considerable capital outlay but also present a considerable storage problem, in any home.

In accordance with the present invention, the capital expense and storage problem involved are very substantially reduced by providing a limited number of individual and relatively compact components which may be used in several combinations with each other to provide a line of infants furniture items even more extensive than that usually considered necessary. 7

The principal or basic components include a wheeled, collapsible stroller frame, a chair, and a table frame. Auxiliary or subsidiary components include a table top, a tray, a high chair frame, a summer carriage body, a shopping basket, and a walker body. The stroller frame is designed for releasable locking engagement with the chair, the shopping basket, or the summer carriage body.

The chair may be used independently, with removable anchor hooks, as a car seat. It is also designed for releasable locking engagement with the high chair frame, table frame, or tray, or for use as a youth chair. The summer carriage body, in addition to its use with the stroller, may be used independently as a car bed, a crib, or a beach bed.

The table frame is additionally designed forre'leasable locking engagement with the walker body, the table top, or the chair, with or without a blackboard. The table top may also be used with the blackboard in combination with the table frame. The walker body is further convertible to a swing by means of removable support rings,

and the high chair frame is independently usable as a utility stool.

For an understanding of the invention principles, ref I Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the summer carriage body;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the summer carriage body mounted on the stroller frame;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the table frame or Walker frame;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the seat mounted on the table frame;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the table top;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the walker;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the table frame, lowered to form a walker frame, with the walker body secured thereto; 7 I

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the locking ad justment of the table legs;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the tray; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the high chair frame.

Referring first to Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, these figures illustrate the stroller frame 20 and the seat 50 both individually and in combination with each other. Stroller 20 comprises spring 'side frame members 21 of strap metal'bent to form endless longitudinal loops..

The lower runs of the side frame members are intercom nected by diagonally extending and intersecting braces 22 interconnected at their intersection by a bolt, rivet or the like. Braces 22 stiffen the stroller frame laterally and longitudinally. The ends of braces 22 are bent down, as at 23, and apertured to receive axles 24 having wheels 25 thereon. A brake 26 is pivoted to an angle brace which is pivoted to the lower run of a side frame member '21.

An inverted U-shape handle 30, preferably of lightweight tubular construction, has its ends pivotally connected to angular brackets 27 on the rear of the upper runs of frame members 21. Handle 30 slopes upwardly and rearwardly from a position behind the rear Wheels 25.

'Handle 30 is held erect, or arranged to fold, by means of linkages on either side connected to the handle, above brackets 27, and to frame'members 21. vEach linkage comprises a link 31 pivoted to handle 30, a link 32 pivoted to a side frame member 21, and a channel 33 to which both links are pivoted. Channel 33 embraces links 31 and 32 and acts to lock these links'extended. When the handle is folded, it lies flat against the upper I'llllSfOfSidC frames21.

A hood 35 is providedcomprising 'awire frame "34 with a fabric covering 36. The ends of frame 34are bent outwardly, as at 37, and then upwardly as at 38." lAt the upper ends of sections 38 are inwardly bent ends).

arranged to fit in holes in handle 30. 'Hood 3 5;is held hood may be easily removed or folded; i

A-sling support 40 is-supported from sideframes. 21. As best seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, frame 40 comprises wire horizontal by portions 37 lying against handle 30." The or rod hangers 41 connected by strap elements 42 having, openings through which hangers 41 extend, elements .42

extending edgewise to the horizontal. Hangers-41 have hook ends engaged in apertures in the upper runs of'side frames 21.

A locking device45 (Fig. 3) for the seat 50.or "oth er elements extends centrally between elements-42. Device 45 comprises a pair of overlapped straps 43 each having a rivet or pin 44 engaged in an elongated slot 46 in the other strap. A spring 4.7 connects pins 44 toicontract device 45. The ends of straps.43 arebent at right angles and carry pins 48 extending through apertures 49 in side frames 42. The operation of device 45 will be described A more fully hereinafter.-

Seat or chair 50 is illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 8. Rev I ferring to these figures, the seat includes channel arms 51 from the inner flanges of which are pivotally supported U-shaped hanger legs 52 which are of,bar.or-strap.mate-.

rial. A fiat rigid bottom 55 has angles 5-3 along each side connected to hangers 52, and is formed with a substantial- 1y central hole 54 for a purposeto be described. Diagonal braces 56 assure rigidity of the seat, which may serve as a youth chair when supported on the hangers 52 engaging a suitable support surface. For a purpose to be described, the vertical legs of angles 53 have spaced notches 57 between which is an aperture 58.

A wire frame foot rest 60, which may be fabric covered is pivoted to the front ends of angles 53. Foot rest 60 has ears 61 to which are pivoted links 62 pivotally connected to wires or rods 63 having hooked ends engageable in apertures in hangers 52. By swinging links 62 180", foot rest 60 may be elevated or lowered. The foot rest, and rod 63, are easily detachable from the seat for folding or storage of the latter.

A seat back 65, of wire frame construction and which may be fabric covered, removably pivoted to the rear ends of angles 53 and has a cross bar 64 projecting therebeyond at each end. Back rest 65 may be held in any one of three positions by a pivoted hanger comprising a pair of wire or rod arms 66 pivoted at their upper ends to arms 51 and having their lower ends integrally connected by a cross member 67. Rods 66 are bent at their upper ends to hook into bar 64 and hold back 65 erect. The arms have hooks 68 intermediate their ends engaging bar 64 to hold back 65 in the intermediate position. In the down or flat position, back 65 lies on cross member 67 positioned by bar 64. Adjustment to any of the three positions is easily effected by swinging arms 66.

Seat 50 is supported in stroller frame by engaging hangers 41 in notches 57 of angles 53. The seat is locked in place by expanding device 45 to allow pins 48 to enter apertures 58 in angles 53, the pins being held in place by contraction of spring 47.

Seat 50 may be combined with high chair frame 70 to form a high chair. Referring to Fig. 15, the high chair frame, which may also function as a utility stool or seat, comprises a flat base 75 having notches 71 at two corners. Base 75 has a strap 72 secured to its under surface and having bent ends attached to a pair of straps 73. Straps 73 have curved ends overlapping and mating with the curved ends of a second pair of straps 74. The curved ends of straps 73, 74 are correspondingly apertured to receive bolts 76 extended through apertures in the upper ends of downwardly and outwardly extending tubular legs 77.

Seat 50 is attached to frame 70 by resting angle irons 53 on base 75 with either hanger 52 set in notches 71. A bolt is extended through hole 54 in seat 50 and through a hole 78 in base 75 and then through strap 72, and has a chair frame 70. Thus, frame 80 comprises pairs of straps 81, 82 having curved mating ends apertured to receive bolts 83 extended through apertures in the upper sections 84 of tubular legs 85. The under edges of straps 81 have rectangular notches 86 for a purpose to be described. Leg sections 84 telescopically receive lower leg sections 88 having swivel casters 90 on their lower ends. Leg sections 84, 88 are suitably formed to prevent or resist relative rotation thereof. A bent spring 91 secured in each section 88 has a cap 92 on its free end projecting through an aperture 93 in the section. Cap 92 is arranged to engage in either of a pair of spaced apertures 94 in the mating section 84 to adjust the length of legs 85. The strap frame 81, 82 provides flexibility for the frame 80 to adjust to floor irregularities.

Chair or seat 50 is secured in frame 80 by nesting arms 51 over straps 80 or 81. It should be noted here that seat 50 may also be placed on a kitchen chair or the like and, when so positioned, the base 55 is the correct height for the child to use the kitchen table. A strap may be passed around bar 64 and the chair back to lock the seat to the chair. Seat 50 may be used as a car seat by virtue of hooks 95 disengageably securable in arms 51. A bar 96 (Fig. 4) interconnecting the front ends of arms 51 acts as a safety bar, may have colored beads 98 extending therealong, and serves as an anchor point for safety strap 97 secured to base 55.

A tray 100 is provided for seat 50. Referring to Figs. 8 and 14, tray 100 comprises a base having bevelled outer corners and a recess 101 in its inner edge. A wire guard rail 102 extends around the front and sides of the tray, being supported on front posts 103 and having threaded ends extending through rear posts 104 and aligned apertures in base 105. These threaded ends extend through slots formed in wire or rod hook members 106 welded to 'a U-shape hook member 110, wing nuts 107 being threaded on the ends of guard 102. Hook member has a downwardly extending off-set 108 in its bight, and the hook assembly is adjustable by loosening wing nuts 107 and sliding assembly 110 to adjust the rearward extent of hook ends 109.

When tray 100 -is used with chair 50, hook arms 109 lie along arms 51 and are hooked beneath the rear ends of these arms to anchor the tray to the seat arms. Hooks 106 engage beneath the seat arm flanges to anchor the tray laterally of seat 50. Offset 108 lies adjacent cross bar 96 and may be locked in place by strap 97.

Carriage or stroller frame 20 is designed to have the summer carriage body disengageably secured thereto, although carriage body may be used separately as a car bed, crib, or beach bed. The carriage body includes a bar or strap bent to form an upper frame 112 from which extends a foot end, this frame receiving a fabric bag 114 into the body of which a flat stiffener base 116 is inserted.

A pair of U-shape hangers 117 have their ends pivoted to frame 112, these hangers acting as legs for the carriage body when used as a bed. The bottom cross members of hangers 117 are pivotally interconnected by side bars 120 having spaced notches 118 between which is an aperture 121. The notches 118 receive elements 41 of stroller frame 20, with aperture 121 cooperating with loading device 45 in the same manner as described for chair 20.

The carriage frame is held erect by collapsible linkages 122 identical to linkage 31-3233 of the stroller frame and connected between one hanger 117 and top frame 112. The carriage body has a hood 125 comprising three bows 123 with a fabric covering 124, col lapsing linkages 126 identical to linkages 122.

The table top 130 for table frame 80 is shown in Fig. 9, and top 130 may be used also with seat 50. Top 130 comprises a base 131 around three sides of which extends a wire guard rail 132 supported on posts 133. The top is anchored to frame 80 or seat 50 by means of wide flat hooks 135 on posts 134 extending down from base 131, springs 136 embracing posts 134 biasing hooks 135 toward base 131. When top 130 is placed on frame 80, hooks 135 seat in notches 86 in bars 81. When seat 50 is placed in frame 80, top 130 may be placed on seat arms 51 after which hooks 135 are anchored to the notches 86 in frame 80.

Frame 80 may be combined with the walker body 140, shown in Fig. 11, to form the walker of Fig. 12. Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, body 140 comprises a rectangular frame formed of longitudinal tubes 141 and transverse tubes 142 interconnected to tubes 141 by bolts 143. Tubes 141 extend beyond tubes 142 at each end to rest on bars 82 of frame 80. A cross rod 144 extends between tubes 141 intermediate their ends.

Rear cross bar 142 and the back halves of bars 141 support a fabric seat 145, the front edge of seat 145 having secured thereto a strap 146 connected to rod 144. Front bar 142 and rod 144 support a fabric utility pouch 147.

Anchor hooks 150 are slidable on rod 144 and biased outwardly by springs 148. These hooks have dependent outer ends from which extend lips 151 having inturned ends. In placing body 140 on frame 80, hooks 150 are pushed inwardly and then released to project beneath bars 81 in notches 86.

The relatively large extent of the walker forwardly of seat 145 assures stability of the walker and prevents forward tipping thereof. For use of frame 80 as a walker, legs 85 are shortened.

Walker body 140 may be used as a swing by virtue of D rings 151 secured to the corners of the frame 141142 by bolts 143.

A shopping basket 155 (Fig. 1 and Fig. 4) may be detachably secured to stroller frame 20. This is a welded wire basket having a reinforcing bar 156 apertured to receive bolts anchoring basket 155 to side frames 21 of frame 20. A swinging bail 157 is pivoted to the shop-.

ping basket.

All the described units are shipped or sold knocked down, for compactness in storage, and may be easily assembled by the buyer. The carriage frame, carriage body, and seat are easily foldable into compact flat form.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a wheeled collapsible stroller frame comprising a pair of laterally and longitudinally braced side frame sections in spaced parallel relation, a pair of swing hangers, having cross-members, pivotally suspended from said side frames to extend transversely therebetween in longitudinally spaced relation, and a pair of hanger connecting bars pivotally interconnecting said hangers and disposed between the side frames, said bars being supported on edge by said hangers; a seat including a pair of inverted channel arms, a flat rigid seat base, a pair of angles extending along the underside of said base on the side edges thereof, and a pair of U-shape bar hangers secured at each end to longitudinally spaced points on said arms, the legs of said bar hangers being secured to said angle irons intermediate the ends of the legs whereby the seat may be supported on a support surface engaged by the bights of said bar hangers; said angle irons having longitudinally spaced recesses in their vertical legs receiving the cross members of said swing hangers to removably support said seat on the latter; and releasable locking means on said pair of bars interengageable with said angle irons to lock said seat to said stroller frame.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which said locking means comprises a pair of pins each extending through an aperture in a hanger connecting bar; and means biasing said pins to project from said hanger connecting bars into apertures in the vertical legs of said angles.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2 in which said pins are mounted on the inner surfaces of vertical ends of a pair of horizontally extending straps extending in overof said angle irons, and linkages connecting said foot restframe to the forward one of said bar hangers and constructed and arranged to hold said foot rest in either an elevated or a partially lowered position.

6. The combination claimed in claim 1 including a back pivoted to the rear ends of said angle irons and having a cross-piece projecting from each side intermediate its height; and a substantially U-shape back latch pivoted to the rear ends of the seat arms and having first hook means adjacent its pivoted ends engageable with said cross piece in the upright position of said back, and second hook means intermediate the lengths of its legs engageable with said cross-piece in a partly lowered position of the back; said back lying on the bight of said latch in the fully lowered position.

7. The combination claimed in claim 1 including a rod connecting the forward ends of the seat arms; and a crotch strap secured to the frontedge of said base and disengageably attachable to said rod.

8. The combination claimed in claim 1 including a tray comprising a fiat base and a hook assembly having rearwardly extending hooks engageable with the rear ends of the seat arms and downwardly extending hoolm at the sides of the base engageable with the flangesof the seat arms.

9. A tray as claimed in claim 8 in which said assem-' bly is longitudinally adjustable; and means for clamping the assembly in adjusted position.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 1 including a shopping basket having a cross-bar removably boltable to said side frames.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

